Do we need an Australian version of passive house design and what would that look like?

A panel of specialists will converge on November 12 to produce some answers to this question and more related to passive design for Australian houses and multi-residential builds. A discussion built around passive design is one of five one-hour panel topics this year for the Sustainability Digital Summit, an event that pre-Covid was best known as Sustainability Live for the last 13 years.

One of the experts, speaking from both a materials and architectural perspective on the passive design topic will be David Baggs, CEO of Global GreenTag International, Program Director of GreenTag's Sustainable Product Certification Standard and architect of hundreds of passive houses and one yet to be certified PassivHaus. He will be joining a line-up of speakers who come mostly from architectural firms in Australia, who work daily to usher more sustainable projects into wider acceptability within the built environment:

Chris Barnett – Architect and Managing Director of Habitech Systems;David Kaunitz, Senior Architect at Kaunitz Yeung;Kylie Mills - Architect and Director at BluKube Architecture;Jean Graham - Architect from Winter Architecture;Melissa Herrmann who has a background in design from RMIT and is the Industry Engagement Manager for Fairview Architectural and,Suzanne Toumbourou, who is Executive Director of ASBEC (Australian Sustainable Built Environment).

As a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects with over 40 years' experience in green design as well as working for many years as a sustainable materials consultant on commercial, government and multi-residential projects, David Baggs says advocacy for passive design is critical in this day and age and welcomes the panel discussion ahead. He states:

"Here in Australia, panel sessions for Sustainability Live have always produced great conversations and organisers do a great job of curating relevant topics and specialists to help educate and place strong and proactive ideas like passive design on the agenda.

My interest is how we can use passive design and materials to push the boundaries. Blending smart passive design with high performing and sustainable materials, products and technologies is a conscious and intentional collaboration with nature in all its permutations. It is a common sense and responsible approach in these times of climate change to produce low impact and energy efficient builds. The long-term benefits we all know give a holistic return on investment. Plenty of studies prove this, including reduced energy costs over time and less environmental impact.

"Importantly too, good passive design combined with the application of high quality materials that are certified to assure they are sustainable and perfect for passive design projects, equals healthier buildings to live in, too. This must be added."

The full panel program for the Sustainability Summit is also designed to provide professionals with the opportunity to acquire CPD points as part of attending all sessions, which will total 5 formal AIA Refuel points.

To read more about the Passive Design panel session, to register for the event and others www.sustainablebuildingawards.com.au/session/passive-designs-passive-houses-multi-residential-builds/">PLEASE